Question 1

Stan just turned eighteen years old. His parents are both fifty-five years old. Stan's father expresses continuing trust in government, but Stan and his mother are highly suspicious of government. According to the textbook, which of the following statements is most likely to be true?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that older adults are more likely to vote than younger adults. As Stan's father is older than both Stan and his mother, he is more likely to vote than Stan and his mother. The other options cannot be determined from the information provided.

Question 2

President Dwight David Eisenhower, who had been supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe in World War II, warned in his presidential farewell address:

Accepted Answer

President Eisenhower warned of the dangers of the "military-industrial complex" in his farewell address, stating that the collaboration between the military and the defense industry could lead to excessive influence and a threat to democracy.

Question 3

Before September 11, the worst act of terrorism in the United States was the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, which claimed 168 lives. The act was carried out by Timothy McVeigh, who was strongly influenced by the Christian Identity movement. What might this fact help us understand about terrorism today?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the Oklahoma City bombing was carried out by someone influenced by the Christian Identity movement shows that religious extremism does not represent religion in general. It is important to distinguish between extremist beliefs and the majority of followers of a particular religion, who do not support or condone violence.

Question 4

In a response to a 2011 survey asking, "What is more important-that everyone be free to pursue their life's goals without government interference, or that the state play an active role in guaranteeing that nobody else is in need?" Fifty-eight percent of American respondents favored the first option. On what is this skepticism based?

Accepted Answer

The skepticism is based on the belief that the welfare state is bureaucratic, alienating, and inefficient. This suggests a lack of faith in government systems and a preference for individual freedom over state control.

Question 5

What was unique about voter participation in the 2008 presidential election?

Accepted Answer

The 2008 presidential election saw higher turnout among young voters than usual, with an increase of about 2 million voters aged 18-29 compared to the previous election. This was likely due to the high level of enthusiasm generated by Barack Obama's campaign, which appealed to younger voters.

Question 6

Many sociologists argue that large numbers of Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. political system today because:

Accepted Answer

Many sociologists argue that the dissatisfaction with the U.S. political system is due to the uneven distribution of wealth generated by the capitalist economy, which has been proven to generate more wealth than any other system. The growing income inequality and the perception of corruption in the political system have led to a sense of frustration and disillusionment among many Americans.

Question 7

Miriam is a sociologist who has great faith in the U.S. political system. She subscribes to the theory that continual processes of bargaining among numerous groups representing different interests influence government policies in a democracy. Miriam's ideas could best be described as:

Accepted Answer

Miriam's ideas align with the pluralist theory, which believes that democratic decision-making is influenced by a multitude of interest groups and that no single group can dominate the others. This aligns with her belief in a continually negotiated political system.

Question 8

Laura is a researcher who studies technological and economic change. Her work shows clearly how forces of worldwide economic competition are changing the nature of the work we do. What term do sociologists use to describe the process she studies?

Accepted Answer

Laura's work deals with the impact of worldwide economic competition, which points towards the process of globalization, where economic, social, and cultural boundaries are increasingly blurred, and interdependence between nations is growing. Epistemology refers to theories on knowledge and how we acquire it, while communism and capitalism are economic systems that do not necessarily encompass the global nature of economic change that Laura is studying.

Question 9

What term refers to carrying out tasks that require mental and physical effort, with the objective of the production of goods and services that cater to human needs?

Accepted Answer

Work refers to the carrying out of tasks that require mental and physical effort with the objective of producing goods and services that cater to human needs. Technology refers to the tools, techniques, and methods used to produce goods and services. Power refers to the ability to influence or control others. Authority refers to the right to make decisions or give orders.

Question 10

U.S. military spending today:

Accepted Answer

The U.S. spends more on military than the next seven countries combined, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect as military spending increased after World War II to maintain U.S. military supremacy during the Cold War. Option B is incorrect because the U.S. spends more on military than Russia and China combined. Option D is incorrect as the U.S. military spending is not among the lowest in the world.

Question 11

Joseph Schumpeter, who expanded on the work of Max Weber, argued that:

Accepted Answer

Schumpeter believed that democracy was important for generating effective and responsible government rather than providing significant power for the majority. He also argued that democracy was a method of selecting leaders rather than a means of determining policy. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it closely aligns with his perspective. The other options are either irrelevant or incorrect based on Schumpeter's views.

Question 12

What term do sociologists use to describe the use of science and machinery to achieve greater productive efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists use the term technology to describe the use of science and machinery to achieve greater productive efficiency.

Question 13

What author's most famous work, The Wealth of Nations, opens with a description of the division of labor in a pin factory?

Accepted Answer

The most famous work of Adam Smith, the Scottish philosopher and economist, is The Wealth of Nations, which opens with a description of the division of labor in a pin factory.

Question 14

In 1908, ________ designed his first auto plant at Highland Park, Michigan, to manufacture only one product. This allowed for the introduction of specialized tools and machinery designed for speed, precision, and simplicity of operation.

Accepted Answer

The given information describes the innovations made by Henry Ford in his first auto plant at Highland Park, Michigan, which revolutionized the automobile manufacturing industry.

Question 15

Eugenia has worked in the same company for fifteen years repairing icemakers. Although her company manufactures other machines, she only repairs the icemakers they produce. What term would sociologists use to describe the specialization of Eugenia's work tasks?

Accepted Answer

The term used by sociologists to describe the specialization of work tasks is "division of labor". Eugenia's work involves specializing in repairing only one type of machine, which is an example of division of labor. Globalization refers to the interconnectedness of the world's economies, while credentialism refers to the tendency to require higher levels of education or certification for jobs that previously did not require it. Economic independence refers to the ability of an individual or household to support themselves financially without assistance.

Question 16

Max spends most of his time in the house taking care of his children and his sister's children. He cooks for them, takes them to school, and keeps an eye on them when they get out of school. In exchange for this help, his sister lends his family an extra apartment she has in her multifamily home. What is the term that sociologists use to refer to this kind of transaction?

Accepted Answer

This kind of transaction is known as the informal economy, as it involves the exchange of goods and services without the involvement of formal institutions or legal contracts. Max's help with his sister's children is not a transaction that is regulated by formal laws or agreements, but rather an informal arrangement between family members.

Question 17

Premodern, as opposed to modern, systems of production were based above all on:

Accepted Answer

Premodern systems of production, which existed before the Industrial Revolution, were primarily based on agriculture, meaning that people relied on cultivating crops and raising animals for their livelihoods. Heavy industry, technology, and communication technologies were not as prominent in premodern societies.

Question 18

Why did Max Weber assume that direct democracy is impossible as a means of regular government in large-scale societies?

Accepted Answer

Weber assumed that direct democracy is impossible as a means of regular government in large-scale societies because millions of people cannot meet to make political decisions in large, complex societies. Direct democracies would require everyone to gather together in one place, making it impractical in larger societies.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true, according to C. Wright Mills in The Power Elite?

Accepted Answer

According to C. Wright Mills in The Power Elite, those who hold the highest positions in politics, the economy, and the military come from similar social backgrounds, have parallel interests, and often know one another personally. This creates a small ruling elite that effectively controls society. Option B refers to the projection of power rather than the internal social dynamics of elites. Option C is not supported by Mills' argument, and the claim in option D is not relevant to the question.

Question 20

Frederick works in a university, studying the extent to which individuals depend on others to produce most of the goods they need to sustain their lives. He is struck by the fact that many people could not survive in the modern world because they simply do not have the knowledge to carry out certain basic tasks, such as growing food. The process that Frederick studies is known to sociologists as:

Accepted Answer

Frederick is studying economic interdependence, which refers to how individuals and societies rely on each other to produce the goods and services they need to survive. This concept acknowledges that people have different skills and knowledge, and that working together allows for greater efficiency and productivity. The other answer choices do not accurately describe the process that Frederick is studying.

Quiz 13: Politics and Economic Life